Current News

Vermont Business Magazine On Friday, December 9, 2022, The Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS), Evernorth, community members and funders, will be joined by Mayor Miro Weinberger to mark the start of construction of deeply affordable housing for 16 families currently living in emergency shelters or motels. The new multifamily apartment building, named Main Street Family Housing, is being constructed on existing COTS property, adjoining their Main Street Family Shelter. These new apartments will provide families with permanent, service-enriched housing as well as continued access to COTS support services.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont-based Burton has announced its new online rental program - giving riders the choice of renting a full kit online and having their rental snowboards, boots, bindings and outerwear shipped to their destination anywhere in the continental US. Soft-launched in October on Burton.com, the industry-first program is powered on the backend by Arrive, the leading technology company that powers resale and rental channels for brands and is ready to offer riders a streamlined service for experiencing more while owning less. The new Burton online rental program is designed for riders looking to try new equipment, gear up for specific terrain, learn on the best products possible and avoid the cost and hassle of flying with extra luggage.

Vermont Business Magazine NBT Bancorp Inc (NASDAQ: NBTB), with branches in Vermont, and Connecticut's Salisbury Bancorp, Inc (NASDAQ: SAL) have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Salisbury will merge with and into NBT. The merger consideration is 100% stock and is valued at approximately $204 million and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2023 subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by the shareholders of Salisbury and required regulatory approvals. The combination, approved unanimously by the boards of directors of both companies, will provide market extension for both institutions and join two high-quality franchises with long histories of service to their customers and communities.

Vermont Business Magazine Temporary help firm Westaff has announced a significant milestone in sales. The company, which is owned by the Burlington area-based Mount Family Group Ltd has reached $500,000,000 in sales since its inception as Westaff in 1990. Since 1990, Westaff has grown from one office in Burlington to four offices in Vermont and eight offices in neighboring states.

The Vermont State Police is investigating the death of a Green Mountain Power employee at a job site in Halifax (Windham County). First responders were notified at about 11 am Thursday, December 1, 2022, that Lukas E. Donahue, 41, of Colrain, Massachusetts, had been seriously injured while working on restoring electric service following an outage caused by trees resting on power lines on Reed Hill Road. Donahue was subsequently pronounced deceased on scene. The VSP investigation indicates this death was accidental and non-suspicious. No further information is available.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Phil Scott today announced that the State of Vermont has hired The Hartford to create the Vermont Family and Medical Leave Insurance Plan (VT-FMLI), a voluntary paid family and medical leave program that will give all working Vermonters access to affordable paid family and medical leave insurance by 2025. Legislative leaders responded by stating that they will push for universal coverage with more comprehensive benefits.

Vermont Business Magazine At the recent Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance’s (VOBA) Annual Meeting, US Senator Patrick Leahy presented the Second Annual Trailblazer Legacy Award via video to Marc Sherman and Mike Donohue of Outdoor Gear Exchange (OGE). VOBA selected the founders of OGE as this year’s Trailblazer Legacy Award winner not only because Outdoor Gear Exchange has been recognized as one of the most successful independent outdoor retailers in the country, but because they have done so while giving back to Vermont’s local community.

by Betsy Bishop, President of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and Megan Sullivan, Vice President of Government Affairs Each new biennium brings new energy to Montpelier and an invigorated drive for progress. A pivot point in pandemic recovery, 2023 is perhaps a year more anticipated than most. Record-high spending in recent years has been possible due to the influx of federal funding for pandemic relief. As that federal funding is depleted, the ability of Vermonters to absorb the cost of sustained programs will be central to our work.

Vermont Business Magazine Continuing its efforts to better the communities it serves, Healthy Living has committed to giving back this year, with the help of shoppers, through its “Together We Can Help” program. By rounding up purchases to the next dollar, shoppers have contributed to a number of local nonprofit organizations in the South Burlington, Williston, and Saratoga Springs, New York, communities. Those roundups, along with matches from Healthy Living, totaled $91,146.56 as of Dec. 1.

Vermont Business Magazine National Life Group has been named to the Inc. 2022 Best in Business list in the insurance category. Inc.’s Best in Business Awards honor companies that have made an extraordinary impact in their fields and on society. National Life Group’s values are to “Do good, Be good, and Make good.” These values inform all the company does, including serving middle America, one of the most underinsured segments of the U.S. population, according to Deloitte, with life insurance and annuities to help protect themselves, their families, and their futures. National Life Group also serves the nation’s school employees, helping provide them with retirement solutions as well as through programs like LifeChanger of the Year that recognize the good they do for their students and in their communities.

Vermont Business Magazine The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to the Vermont Foodbank. The foodbank was one of 10 hunger-relief organizations around the country to receive a special grant on Giving Tuesday. Local Dunkin’ Franchisee Damartin Quadros visited the foodbank to present a ceremonial grant check to Vermont Foodbank CEO John Sayles and several volunteers. On Giving Tuesday the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation awarded $100,000 in grants as part of a partnership with national hunger-relief organization Feeding America.

Vermont Business Magazine Last night, Governor Phil Scott was joined by hundreds of Vermonters for the annual State House Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Montpelier. Prior to the event, the Governor also hosted several recipients of his Rays of Kindness initiative, which recognizes individuals and organizations for giving back to their communities through acts of kindness, volunteerism and more. Vermonters can nominate individuals or groups for this recognition at governor.vermont.gov/rays-of-kindness.